Conditioning needle for bag stringing machines



Sept. 30,1952 B. c. GOLDEN 2,612,125

counicrxomuc NEEDLE FbR BAG STRINGING MACHINES Filed April 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

I Ber/{i9 C. Go/den BY Sept. 30, 1952 B. c. GOLDEN 2,612,125

CONDITIONING NEEDLE FOR BAG STRINGING MACHINES Filed April 5, 1950 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INOVENTOR. Berf/e C. GO/dem, B

ww/an Sept. 30, 1952 B. c. GOLDEN 2,612,125

CONDITIONING NEEDLE FOR BAG STRINGING MACHINES Filed April 5, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept, 30, 1952 B. c. GOLDEN 2,612,125

CONDITIONING NEEDLE FOR BAG STRINGING MACHINES Filed April 5, 1950 4 Sheets-sheaf 4 INVENTOR Barf/e 6'. Go/den,

AITORNEY Patented Sept. 30, 1952 CONDITIONING NEEDLE FOR BAG STRINGING MACHINES Bertie 0. Golden, Richmond, Va., assignor to Millhiser Bag Company, Inc., Richmond, Va.,

a corporation of Virginia Application April 5, 1950, Serial No. 154,160

7 Claims. (Cl. 112-2) The invention relates to bag stringing ma- 2' chines, and more particularly to improvements in so-called hem nickers, piercers or conditioning needles adapted to pierce the hems of the bag beingstrung slightly in advance of the bag stringing needles, and thereafter to be swung laterally out of alignment with the stringing needles to bulge the hems to facilitate entry of the stringing needles, the conditioning needles being withdrawn from the hems after entry of the stringing needles.

The present application is a continuation in part of my prior applications Serial No. 515,164, filed December 21, 1943, now Patent No. 2,504,974, dated April 25, 1950, and Serial No. 792,793, filed December 19, 1947, now Patent No. 2,565,495, dated August 28, 1951, in which the conditioning needles are shown in conjunction with the stringing needles and other coacting parts of the complete stringing machine. The entire disclosures of said prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference as part of the disclosure of the present application.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the conditioning needles or piercers enters and leave the hems of the bags on substantially straight lines, thus avoiding tearing of the hems or the formation of holes of large size therein. This is important for the reason that the formation of large holes would permit such free movement of the adjacent end of the drawstring as to cause it to hook or loop over the adjacent end of the mouth, causing the latter to gap open and allow tobacco to escape therefrom in the use of a filled bag. The herein described mode of operation of the p'iercers effectively avoids this objection.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the conditioning needles or piercers are carried by elongated heads which are mounted for rectilinear movement toward and from the bags to be hemmed, and are also mounted for arcuate movement about an axis parallel to the path of rectilinear movement of the points of the conditioning needles.

Another feature of the invention resides in the use of resilient means tending to hold the points of the conditioning needles a predetermined distance apart, in substantial alignment with the bag stringing needles, whereby'when the conditioning needles are moved forward in advance of the stringing needles they may be brought into accurate engagement with the bag hems.

A further feature ofthe invention resides in the use of positive cam means for forcing the conditioning needles apart against the force of resilient means tending to hold them together, whereby the bag hems may be spread or bulged to permit the stringing needles to enter the sam with facility.

Another feature of the invention resides in the shape of the heads which carry the conditioning needles or piercers, which shape enables the needles to penetrate one layer only of the cloth to facilitate entry of the stringing needles.

Hem 027972678 The hem openers are guided by the bag instead of a stop or other mechanical means. The rounded or inclined lead edge of the point holder exerts a cam action and slides across the hem and the point that penetrates the cloth projects from it the thickness of only one layer of cloth.

By using this construction the point is always in the same relation to the bag although some bags may not be stretched down tight against the holders. cloth, unless the bags are stretched exactly the same each time, the hem will either be missed or the point will penetrate both layers of cloth.

Another feature of the invention resides in.

the mounting of the conditioning needle carrying heads on reciprocable and rotatable rods or shafts mounted out of the plane of the stringing needles, thus avoiding interference with needle threading, thread clamping and other mechanism coacting with the stringing needles.

Another feature of the invention resides in the particular shape and construction of the needle carrying heads.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the bag stringing needles, the conditioning needles or piercers in their relation to a tobacco bag supported in bag stringing position, and actuating means for the stringing needles and conditioning needles, substantially as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,504,974, but with certain coacting' parts of the stringing machine removed in the interest of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding to the rear portion of Fig. 1, but modified in accordance with the disclosure of-m Patent No. 2,565,495;

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a-smaller scale of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

If the point is not guided by .thev

Fig. 4 is a similar plan view but modified to correspond with the disclosure of Patent No. 2,565,495;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views showing successive stages in the operation of the conditioning needle;

Fig. 9 is an enlargeddetail :perspective show-- ing the upper'portionaoffthe conditioning needle carrying head and the needle carried thereby; and

Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive are fragmentary sectional views illustrating successive stagesi.i-rr:the-= operation of the conditioning needle.

Referring to the drawings; thereference 1111',"-

meral I denotes a cloth tobaccobagonthelike which, in the various figures of the drawings, is

shown suspended in vertical position. froma pair of corner grippers I03, I03, after the bag' has been reversed, as more fully set forth in my Patent'iNo. 2,504,974. The reversed bag at its upper or mouth portion.is provided with aline of- .stitching. I 2. extendinglcompletely aroundthe bagrar little below.

the top thereof,' which line of l stitching vdefines. the-.lower-marginon a hem .portion I 3..comprising.

two :layers o-f cloth between; which drawstrings are to be inserted by a pair of parallel-horizom tallyareciprocable drawstring threading. needles I20, I30... Thebag in -its reversedposition..is pro.- vided'withapairoi fvertical side flaps I4; I4;:theupnerpportionslof which .aregripped. between the lipsr-LIILandW I I3 of the corner grippers I 03,.. I 03. during the stringing operation, as more fully set forth in the aforesaid'Patent-No. 2,504,974.

The drawstringthreading needles I29 and I 30 areiadaptedtobe reciprocated toward and from the-suspended bag I 0 in a common horizontal plane-to-therebyinsert the drawstring in Icetweenthe inner a'nd-outer'layers of the bag materialconstituting'the hem portions I 3 previously referredtorshown;- the rear ends-of the bag stringing needles-"I2&,- ;-I30 are secured to a suitable-car vided" at interval along -;the path of movement lever. I53 actuated from a: suitable source. of.

power as more-fully set forth in my Patent No. 504,974

I Insorder, to facilitate the entry of; the. drawe str ingp threading needles. I29- and I3.0.'.into.. the

hemsof.successive.;bags while suspended by thecorner-grip. .ers..I03;. I03 apain othem nickers,v piercers or conditioning needles. I36; I36Iareprovided which, in. .accordance..with the .present. invention, are adaptedto enter andleaveth'ehems onsubstantiallystraight lines inta direc-tionparallel to or in alignment withlthe directions of movement ofthe stringing needles themselves. In approaching the. bagsto. be strung the-points...

I030 of the conditioning needles I36, I36 are normally spaced apart a distance about equal to but slightly less than the distance between the points of the stringing needles I29, I30, and move in advance of and in substantial alignment with the stringing needles until the conditioning needles have' j-ust penetrated the: bag hems, whereupon the: rectilinear movement of the conditioning needles ceases and the needles are then moved slightly outwardly, thus effecting a bulging or spreadingpf, the layers of the hems I3 to permit the-stringing needles to enter the hems with ease. After the'stringing needles have entered the hems the conditioning (needles are withdrawn rectilinearly'sin:.a.directioni parallel to the direction of movement of the'stringing needles, and after the withdrawal of, the stringing needles from the bag hemst'o a position in rear of the conditioning needleslth'e latter are swung inwardly toward each other and are ready to resume forward movement in. .advance-of the stringingneedles. in asubsequentcycle- Thesmechanismior performing. the above op eration in accordance with :the. disclosure of Pat-r5- ent.=No-...2-,'504,9'74lisr illustrated in Figs- 1 and 3,: while similar mechanism for performinguthese operations inaccordance with. the disclosure of. Patent No.-2 ,565,495 isiragmentarily illustratedin.1iigs 2ilandv4, reference being had. to the dis closures. .of such patents. for. the. coordinate op. eration of related elements ofthestringingma chine.

As shown,- theconditioning needles I36,- I35-are carried by apair. of uprightrneedlecarrying man--- bers or elongatedheads I33; I33, said needle carrying? members or heads. being secured at their lower. endsto. a. pair. oi slidableand rotatableshafts... I 34-.mounted for reciprocation in a plane parallel .to the pathrofimovement ofthe stringing:

needles. I29, I30.. The shaftsorrods I34Iare. adapted. tobe. moved forwardly.v by any suitable. means,sucliaspusnmemloerfiw carried bya bell crank lever I38 actuated intimed relation to the movement. oLthe .stringingneedles, as. more fully set forth .in my. Patent lTo.,2 ,504,974.- The rods' I34passithrough. suitable. fixedguides 501.; 502-- carriediby the. frame of..the..machine, andeach; rodlis provided with a.collar;or..enlargement503 secured thereto betweenwhich collars and. the. fixedguides. 50I' helical springs I31" are interposed; adap'ted'to be compressed during the for.- ward movement of. the .rods I34. under the influenceof' the positive contact member. 50'0Licarried. bybell crank .I 38, saidspringsv I31 serving to move the. rods. I34 rearwardly as.- the member I 30 is. retracted.

The rods. -I 34- are adapted to. be positively rotated in opposite. directionsaabout theirrespective axes in order to spread. apartthepoints. I 030 of..the conditioning needles. I36, I36, such positive movement being effectedb-y means-of acammember! I4I, securedbelow the needle carriage I42; and slidablehtherewith. The cam member. I M is providedl withv a... V-shaped. point 504. adapted to pass between a pair of rollers .506 carried at the upperendsv of... uprightarmsor heads. I 43,143 securedtorods- I34, I34 near the rear thereof,. the. arms. I 43, I 43 being norm-ally. urged .towardone anotherv by a tension spring I 3411. connecting thesamel. The rear. upright arms or. heads I43,--

I43" aresu-bstantially. parallelvto the needle-carry ing members or arms-I33-,: I33 at the fronten-ds of the. rods: I34; and it will be. apparent. that the spring I34a tends to draw the arms I43 togetherin absence ofiithe .slid-ablewcam.memberia: I 4| ried" by a fixed member I0I5 mounted onthe frame of the machine, at which time the'conditioning needles I36, I36 approach eachother' until their points are a distance apart which is slightly less than the distance between the points of stringing needles I26, I30 and then are in a position to enter the bag hems. .7

While'in the arrangement shown in Figs; '1 and 3- the cam member MI is shown attachedtoand movable with the needle carriage I42, the cam member I4I' may ifdesired be slidable relative to the carriage I42 and actuated by means I4Ia other than the needle carriage, as illustrated for example in Figs. 2 and 4 of the present drawings, the connections between the cam member I M and the driving shaft of the stringing machine being more fully set forth in my Patent No.

While it is often desirable to provide a tension spring I340, between the upright "rear arms I43 carried by the slide rods I34, this spring may be'omitted and the compression springs I31 alone may be relied upon to draw the arms together. In such case the springs I31 should be so connected at their ends as to serve not only as compression members to insure rearward movement of the rods I34 and 'of the conditioning needle carrying heads I33 secured thereto, but also as torsion springs tending" to rotate therods I34, I34 in such a directionas to bring theinwardly projecting lugs IOI3 carriedby heads- I33, I33 into contact with the spacing rib, I0 I4 to keep the needle points I030 a set distanceap'art when the cam member MI is withdrawn. A tension spring (not shown)v could also be provided connecting the needle carrying heads I 33 instead of or in addition to the spring connecting the upright arms or members I43 carryingicamengaging rollers 506. I v

Another feature of the invention resides in the construction of the members or heads I33 which carry the conditioning needles or piercers I36. As previously set forth, these members areofsubstantial height so that'their rods or shafts I34 may be located a substantial distance out of the plane of the operation of other'mechanism cooperating with the stringing needles, such as needle threading mechanism, thread clamping mechanism, etc.. I

The inner or facing surfaces I000 of the pair of needle carrying heads I33 are inclined forwardly.

and inwardly, as indicated in Figs. 9 to 13, and the conditioning needles I36, I36 are similarly inclined. These needles are adjustably mounted in their respective heads by means of set screws IO0I, whereby the positions of the points of the conditioning needles may be accurately located. Adjacent the needle points the heads are hollowed out as indicated at I062; Beyond the hollowed out portion I002 the head is provided with a rounded or inclined tip portion I003. In adjusting the needle a needle tip is brought into substantial alignment with the extremity of the tip portion I003 so that in rubbingthe finger along the face of the head I33 the tip of the needle will scarcely be felt, if at all. The two opposite heads I33, I33 carrying the conditioning needles while approaching the bag supported by the corner grippers are so close together that the tip portions I 003 of the heads will slightly compress the hem portions of the bag in passing over the same, but owing to the resiliency of the material such material will spring back into :thev hollowed out portion of the head I002 adjacent the needle-tip, enabling said needle tip to engage the outer layer only of-the bag making materialwithout contacting the inner layer. This is clearly indicated extending cut-away portion I023. The lower por"-: tion I0 I 0 is detachably secured to the rod or shaft.

i34by means of a set screw I004.

.As previously set forth, the inner surface I000 of each head is inclined inwardly and forwardly,

and the needles I36, I36 carried by posts I006 at the upper portions of said heads aresimilarly inclined. Adjustment of the needles in their respective heads is provided by means of the set screws i00I extending downwardly throughsthe" posts I006 whereby the positions of the points- I030 of the conditioning needles maybe'accuratelylocated. Spaced forwardly of .the' post I006 and separated therefrom by a cut-out portion I008 is a second post I009, in which is provided the smooth hollowed out portion or groove I002 previously referred to, which extends gen-' erally'in the direction of the needle point-1030 and terminates just short of the rounded front edge or nose portion I003 of the needle carrying head I33. Each head I33 is also preferably provided with an inwardly projecting. lug or stop memberv IOI3 which is adapted to coactwith the upstanding rib IOI4 of the spacing member I015 to limit the inward movement of the upper portion of the head I33 under the influence of the tension spring I34a. The post I006 of the head I33 is preferably provided with a horizontally extending groove IOI6 to provide clearance for the stringing needles I20, I30 so that the string ing needles will not jam against the backs of the holders I33 before the conditioning needles= are spread apart. The stringing needles follow" closely behind the conditioning needles 136 and the points of the stringing needles ride in these grooves as the conditioning needles are spread apart. v r

The operation of the conditioning needles I36 in their relation to the stringing needles I29, I30

At this stage the points I030 of the conditioning needles will be spaced apart a distance about equal to but very slightly less than the distance between the points of the stringing needles I29 and I30, and at the beginning of the cycle to be described the points of the conditioning needles will be in advance of and in substantial alignment with the points of the stringing needles. Prior to the time that the stringing needles are moved forward to engage the bag hems the conditioning needles are moved forward by contact of the push member 500 carried by the bell crank I38 with the rear ends of the rods I34, thus advancing said rods, carrying with them the heads I33 and conditioning needles I36,

gamma? I wc'azryingttheimeedlesrliifi atitheirupperpore tionszmnvei forwardly 'inrairectilirrear path guided;

contactt-betweeirthe-lugsi I 0131 and'the? longitudinaf'guide-rili I I14. until therounded nose 7 or l'eading edge;=I0'03Lat the front of thehead: comes in contact with an outer layer I020 of" the bagsI0,r-whereupon the'nose' .I 003 rides on the bag,

forcing the :head I33 slightly outwardly against the-tension Offspring I 34a and bringing thepoint I 030. 0fthe conditioning needle. exactlyinto position; :to' engage the bagzhenr between outer and inner layers I020 and I02'I of the cloth; Thus, theposition of'the point of the. conditioning needle: from; the" time the' leading edge I0'03'of. theahe'ad I33-contacts the bag until theconditionin gineedle-a-point I030 itself-reaches the bag is z-guided byrthe bag material rather than by' rr'nechanioalL means: that" could-1 developplay or wear; Accordingly; entry ofith'e point of the-con ditioning needle :atexactly the right position is assured: f Forwardimovement of the push memben-500randrods- 'l'34iceasesi-when the points I030 ofitheiconditioning needles have' enteredthe bag hems,:=bu1r saidzpush member remains in con-- tactwith th'ero'ds-- I34 to prevent rearward move ment until; the c-ampoint 5040f theslide member I H r' ha'szxengagedmhe rollers? 506 carried by heads' I43; to IOtatGIth'Ef-QI'OdS134.: and needle carrying headsrl 4-3 slightlyroutwardly, thereby causing the points ofztlierconditioning needles' to be swung slightlycoutwardly ir'rran arcuatepath and'b'ulging ztherhemst OfIItH'GT: bags to: allow the stringing needles:- I'Zllaand; I 30 to enter. The cut-out portion w I002z;in*:the headsrl'33 adjacent the points I030 of thezconditioning-needles enablethe cloth oft-the hem to slide zuponithe conditioningnee'dles as'sindicatedFirr Fig; 11. Forward movements of thezstringin rneedlecarriage I 42 and cam slide I I-i; commence shortly after the conditioning needles begin:;tomoye: forwardly and the string-- ing; needleszshouldiollow" closely behind the conditionings needles; the points of the stringing needles" ridingzin the-grooves I I 01 6 in therear 'of the heads: I33; as the conditioning needles are spread-qapa-rt toa'bulgei-thetbag hems and permit the stringing needles to enter the bulged portion. After-the stringing needles have entered 'the bag hems thexconditionin'g: needles; which "are now spread apartrbythei camtpoint504 on the front side'ofz-slidewl l' I aresretracted by the springs I 31 ou -tilereverse:movementofthe push"rod"500*oar= rieddoy: bellI-crank 1-38. I This reverse movement is ina rectilinear'path parallel to the forward movementrof theconditioning-needles in entering the bag..;- After-thestringing' needles have been with-- drawnfromzcthe bag at "the conclusion of the stringing operation:the sliding cam member III is alsmw-ithdrawn; thus allowing the spring I340 connecting the members I43, I43 to return the conditioning needles=:to normal position withthelugs I0 I 3.- carried byheads I33 contacting opposite sides of'. the SPECEIL'LIUIY preparatory to thecomzmencement of: the next'stringing cycle. The cut-out;- portions 1008- in. the. heads I33 carrying theiconditioning needles" provide space adjacent therzconditioning need-lesso that lint and thread from the bags :will 'notaccumulate and' prevent ther-needles-from: functioning properly. The cut-- outaportions I023 may'serve a similar function.

Theinventionhasbeen described in detail for theepurpose-vof illustration;v but i'twill be ob-- vious :that numerous-:modifications and 'variations may be resorted :tII .without departing from theaspisitofsthe inventions. For example; any suitable; means; may; be:.--.provided l for; rotating" 83.: that-needle marryingvheadss; L33w'I-im wop zvosite '3 diesrectionsatxsuitablyftimed int'ervals;'-v Also; any? suitable means :forr'limiting';; the"- movement. ofthe: headss towardaoneia anotherrmay, be providedii 1 Thus the rollers 503T carried: by" the r'e'araheads;

I 43::1could:be -made;-r;of such size asitowcontact i one anotheripwhen the points :of the: condition ing: n8ed1eSi;&Iei"'in:- their? innermost positionz. Other variationsmayfirbe apparent-tothose skilled.

I in the art.

I: claimz" 1. A! bag? stringingsmachine; including; are-- ciprocable bag stri'ngingz-n'eedle, meansv for. Slip-y" porting a hemmedrbagrin stringingposition with: i itsshemrinialignmentwwithtsaid stringing;needle;

means? "for; imparting:; rectilinear. movement:- to" said: needle to; insert-J a-x..drawstring; in the? hem-=1- of the-i bag; a reciprocable; oom'litioningv needle:- adaptemto: be- :mJovedi toward and. away from the bagiin a 'directionrin'r substantialv alignment 1: with or parallel to the direction of movement-i of? the'e stringinganeedle; and arranged to? be rocked; inanz-arcuatepath toward and away, from the path offmovement? of the stringing: needle, means for reciprocatingthe:conditioning nee'dle" towardiand Jaway'from the supported bag, and means for: arcuat'ely'rocking. the "condition ing needle into:v and .out" of alignment? with the stringing needle,- said :conditioning. needle; being; carried by ahead mounted onsa rotatable and reciprocablerod spaced from-abut in the: same' vertical plane as theistringing;needle. l

2. A bag stringingi machine; includingameans; for supporting a hemmed bag in stringing. p0":- sition'," a bag-stringingneedle; means: forrimparting rectilinear: movement. to: said stringing needle toinsert a drawstringi in the hemzof' the: bag, and a conditioning 'needle, adapted topenetrate the baghem prior tozthevinsertion of I the i stringing needle; in v substantial: alignment with the stringing needle; then to be: rocked. arcuately; out of the path of the stringing needle-Ito bulge"; the hem and to facilitate entry of the stringing needle; and subsequentlyfto be withdrawnin a direction 1 parallel toithei? direction of movement 1 of the stringing needle} meansflforw reciprocating the conditioningneedle; toward and away from the-bag hem and means'forrocking the'condition ing'nee'dle arcuately-"into and out of the path 01.:

' the stringing. needle}.saidiconditioningneedle-z being'c'arriediby a headm'ounted on a rotatable and reciprocable rod spaced fromabut parallel to the stringingneedle, and: reciprocablein a path parallel thereto;

3; Av bag stringing: machine: as setsforth in: claim 2, wherein. the last named means iincludes positive -meansi fortswinging; the I head" carrying the" conditioning needle outwardly away from the path of. the: stringingrineedle, resilient'imeans l urging the headr in theopposite direction, and; fixed guide meansfonlimitingthe inward movement:: of: the head-Sunder the influence; of said resilient means; 7

e. vArbag stringingi machine including a ho1' izontally'reciprocable' bag stringing n'e'e'dle, means: for? supporting: a hemmed llbag with its hemtini aligmnent with. the; stringing needle,.means for? r'eciprocatingfthe stringingit needle:-- to: insert' a1 drawstring: in"? the: hermof l thesbag, and .a :oon'ditioningmeedle adapted lto'rpenetrate the: bag hem prior to the insertion:ofz;thefstringingrneedle alignmentftherewith; then' to berocked arouately." out? ofth'e p'athxof th" "needle; and itd be sub sequently'withdi'awn a: direction parallel to:

- rue direction ofent ry, ahead carrying said'c'o ditioning needle, a reciprocable and rotatable rod carrying said head, and movable in a rectilinear path spaced from but parallel to the path of movement of the stringing needle, means for reciprocating said rod in timed relation to the stringing needle, resilient means tending to rotate the rod in one direction and positive means for rotating the rod in the opposite direction against the force of said resilient means.

5. In a bag stringing machine, means for suspending a hemmed bag in stringing position, including a pair of internal corner grippers engaging the bag at opposite ends of the hem mouth thereof, a bag stringing needle, means for imparting rectilinear movement to the stringing needle and a conditioning needle adapted to penetrate the bag hem in advance of the stringing needle and in alignment therewith, then to be rocked arcuately out of the path of the stringing needle to bulge the hem and facilitate entry of the stringing needle, and subsequently to be withdrawn in a direction parallel to the direction of entry, an elongated head carrying said conditioning needle, and a rotatable and reciprocable rod carrying said head, mounted for reciprocation in a direction parallel to but spaced from the stringing needles but in the same vertical plane therewith, said conditioning needle being mounted in said head near the opposite end thereof from the point of attachment to said rod, said head being recessed to receive the point of said needle, and having an inclined or rounded front cam portion in advance of and substantially in alignment with the conditioning needle point, said front portion being adapted to momentarily compress the material of the bag in advance of the conditioning needle as the head is moved forwardly, and to permit the material to bulge into the recess of said head after the front portion has passed thereover, thereby permitting the needle point within said recess to engage the bulged hem portion.

6. In a bag stringing machine, means for suspending a hemmed bag in stringing position, including a pair of internal corner grippers engaging the bag at opposite ends of the hem mouth thereof, a bag stringing needle, means for imparting rectilinear movement to the stringing needle and a conditioning needle adapted to penetrate the bag hem in advance of the stringing needle and in alignment therewith, then to be rocked arcuately out of the path of the stringing needle to bulge the hem and facilitate entry of the stringing needle, and subsequently to be withdrawn in a direction parallel to the direction of entry, an elongated head carrying said conditioning needle, a rotatable and reciprocable rod carrying said head, mounted for reciprocation in a direction parallel to but spaced from the stringing needles but in the same vertical plane therewith, said conditioning needle being mounted in said head near the opposite end thereof from the point of attachment to said rod, said head being recessed to receive the point of said needle, and having an inclined or rounded front cam portion in advance of and substantially in alignment with the conditioning needle point, said front portion being adapted to momentarily compress the material of the bag in advance of the conditioning needle as the head is moved forwardly, and to permit the material to bulge into the recess of said head after the front portion has passed thereover, thereby permitting the needle point within said recess to engage the bulged hem portion, and means for accurately adjusting the position of the point of the conditioning needle within the recess in said head.

7. A bag stringing machine including a pair of stringing needles, means for supporting a hemmed bag in stringing position in alignment with said needles, means for imparting rectilinear movement to said needles to insert drawstrings in the heme of the bag, a pair of conditioning needles adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from the bag in a direction in substantial alignment with or parallel to the direction of movement of the stringing needles, and arranged to rock in an arcuate path toward and away from the path of movement of the stringing needles, means for reciprocating the conditioning needles toward and away from the supported bag, and means for arcuately rocking the conditioning needles into and out of alignment with the stringing needles, said stringing needles being reciprocable in a horizontal plane, and the conditioning needles being carried by heads mounted on a pair of rotatable and reciprocable rods parallel with the stringing needles but located in a different horizontal plane from the stringing needles.

BER'I'IE C. GOLDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Re. 22,596 2,296,783 

